One hundred women who don’t consider shopping a chore — or a bore — were on Cloud 9 when Beacon Center’s Cherish the Children Guild combined its annual membership brunch with an outdoor gourmet market.
The setting was Tom and Joanie Wattles’ expansive backyard in Cherry Hills Village, and Mother Nature did her part by providing a picture-perfect autumn day.
Organizers Jamie Angelich and Sharon Sweeney lined up a host of specialty vendors, including High Country Caprine Cheese, Harriet’s Little Soap Company, Ocean Gems, Madam Pickle, Flower Power, Maple Goods, Kurrants Catering, StoneMar Designs, Minnie Beasley’s Lace Cookies, Chinois Butter Goose Quiche and Shooz, the Cherry Creek North shoe boutique owned by Samantha Castilla, wife of former Colorado Rockies third baseman Vinny Castilla.
Whole Foods donated the baguettes and olive oil that each guest took home in a Cherish the Children tote bag; Castle Pines Golf Club Catering furnished macaroons.
Cherish the Children Guild was founded in 1999 by Annabel Bowlen, whose husband, Pat, owns the Denver Broncos. She also served as president for several terms, before turning the gavel over to the current leader, Pamela O’Neal.
Members of the guild raise money for Beacon Center’s work with abused and neglected children between the ages of 12 and 18, mainly through an annual gala. The Bowlens remain honorary chairs of the gala, and have involved members of the Broncos in the cause.
Jamie Angelich will chair the 2008 gala, and at the membership brunch she said that the date is May 17 and the theme is “Viva Las Vegas.” Angelich also announced that longtime Beacon Center benefactors Anne and Ralph Klomp, owners of Trice Jewelers, will be given the Golden Cherub Award that night in appreciation for the many things they have done for Beacon over the years.
Guests, Angelich added, can expect “great music, great entertainment and some familiar Vegas celebrity faces,” along with the outstanding decor that Marc Roth and Jim Pfister provide every year.
O’Neal also introduced the guild officers for the coming year: Kathy Rubin, Nancy Sevo, Christina Richardson, Gayle Novak, Sweeney and Angelich.
Among those attending the brunch were former Colorado first lady Frances Owens; Carol Roddy; Ryta Sondergard; Jane Netzorg; Suzy Hamilton; Marilynn Carroll; Jeanne Phillips; Danna Weipking, Judianne Atencio; Barbara Goldy; Scottie Iverson; and Diane Kreider.

Pictures taken at the membership brunch can be viewed at denverpost.com/SeenGallery.

Denver Post Society Editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com. Her column appears every Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.